More than 1,400 Will County businesses benefit from relief grants

More 1,400 businesses in Will County received federal grants meant to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The almost $21 million in grants came from the nearly $120 million Will County received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act passed last year. A Will County Board committee has been debating how to spend the money to help businesses, local governments and nonprofit organizations impacted by the pandemic.

“I thought the program went well,” said Will County Board member Ken Harris, D-Bolingbrook, who chairs the committee. “We put $21 million into the economy. I thought that was a good deal for the businesses.”

The Bronner Group, a consultant firm hired by Will County to help distribute the relief money, reported data on the recipients of grants. On average each business was awarded about $14,478.

The consultants also reported a breakdown of the race of business owners who were awarded grants.

About 57% of the businesses given grants were owned by a white person, about 14% by a Black owner and about 12% by an Asian-American owner. Also just under 14% of business owners who won a grant were Latino.

About 38% of business owners benefitting from a grant were female.

The grant money was also distributed fairly widely across the county geographically, though the 60435 Zip Code, in Joliet, was the biggest beneficiary with businesses there earning about 12% of grants. Businesses in all other Zip code areas accounted for 6.6% or less of the grants.

On top of the small business grants, the county distributed about $34 million to 160 local government bodies for reimbursement for pandemic-related expenses like paying for personal protective equipment.

Officials have used much of the remaining money for county expenses, like enhancing the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

There is also a possibility the county could see more money with another $1.9 trillion relief package making its way through Congress.

Bronner’s team told the County Board committee that if the package is passed, potentially next month, Will County could see another $135 million or so. In the CARES Act, counties with a certain number of residents were given aid directly.

While the money can be used for pandemic-related expenses, like the vaccine rollout, unlike in CARES Act, the new funds could also be used to replace lost revenue due to the economic downturn.

Bronner also said the city of Joliet could be the recipient of about $22 million directly from the package.